I just posted in the other thread too. I think the solar panel is pretty much confirmed. Otherwise, if the car is turned off, you can't use the normal A/C anyway... unless they change it.

I'm not doubting that it's a cool new feature, but why would an air conditioning button be added to the key fob? And one fob has it and the other doesn't, so what's that all about?

I have a feeling that button stands for something else, and not what we of course think A/C usually means. I have no suggestions for what that may be, however, it is obvious that this is a feature they only want one fob to control.

It just doesn't make sense to me! Why put an air conditioning control on a key fob, and not say something like a trunk release...arrrgghhh.

I think the two fobs represent the non-solar-panel option (i.e., no running AC while parked in that sunny parking lot) and the solar panel option (which conceivably could yield better mpg...)

Here's what I said at the POG

"As for what it does, here’s my theory. On a standard vehicle you can purchase a remote starting system which does two things, starts the IC engine and warms it up and also gets the interior climate control system going. On either extremely hot or cold days this is a nice thing to have.

But since the Prius doesn’t work in quite the same manner installing a remote start on a Prius is rather worthless. So maybe this turns the Prius on and starts the climate control system? It’s the only thing I can think that A/C could mean.

If so it would be great here because those cold days are, well, quite cold.

Now, with all that said and with great deference to Toyota, this would really only be useful if they significantly increased the range of the smartkey. If I have to go stand next to the car to start this “remote system†then it’s not really practical.

Which brings me back the idea that maybe it is something else.

Truth is, I don’t know and I’m guessing just like everyone else."

I'd love to what you folks here think. That's my best guess at this point.

Thanks to Danny and Evan for the link.

I bet it's just to start the A/C before you get to the car to get the major heat out before entering. Since it only needs the traction battery to run, it probably only engages if the state of charge is high enough.

The range of the push button remote in the key is a lot higher than the smart key range.

This is a remote auto airconditioning switch allowing the computer to determine if the engine needs to run to heat the cabin or if the airconditioning can just run from the traction battery. A solar panel to top up the battery when parked in the sun would be a nice feature because it would allow longer run time for the auto AC before the ICE needs to run.

Of course an EBH would reduce run time for the ICE in cold weather and a solar panel next to useless if you park under cover.

Did anyone else notice the lock and unlock buttons are reversed from the positions on the current fob?
Also Australia doesn't get the panic alarm so no red button here.

It could be that the solar A/C is confirmed, but regardless if this is the new fob it look extremely cheap, and like it was put together in a day. It will not be as nice looking as the current one. I hate when the downgrade on something like this when it's suppose to be an upgrade to a new and fresh model. There should not be a downgrade in quality.

Looks like a remote start for climate control. The second fob shows it is an option. It doesn't look like a downgrade to me, even a little bit of an upgrade.

Same remote as current Highlander smart key, without AC button of course.

Placing the A/C button so close to the Panic button can make it easy to press Panic by mistake.

I wonder if the next gen for the US market will have EBH as an optional add-on as well.

Funny, lock is at the top on my remote. Maybe everything really is upside down in Australia.
Or maybe the lock/unlock positions have changed since 2004?

A remote ac sounds like a great idea. I assume it would default to the latest setting, so you'd better hope on a hot morning you didn't leave the heat blasting on the cool ride home the night before.

I'm ready for a harder clue next week. These seem to be getting more obvious.

i hope it defaults to a set temp.. like 72... or you can set it.

I think it's safe to say that "A/C" standands for Air Conditioning. Since the Prius air conditioning is electric, it doesn't need the engine to run except to keep the battery topped off.

The problem with using a remote start (assuming you can actually get one!) to operate the air conditioning is that the security system is disabled when the car is in READY mode. Perhaps the "A/C" function is similar to READY, but with the security system still enabled. The engine runs as required to keep the battery up, but the alarm system is active, and you probably can't put the car in gear.

That new fob doesn't look like you could plug it into the dash. It's probably one that you can just wave near the POWER button if the smart system isn't active/installed.

As for solar, it could run a ventilation fan, but not the full heating and cooling system.

home on the range

Patsparks, yes, the general range of the fob itself is somewhat better than the smartkey functions but it's still quite limited. Compared to after-market installed remotes, the range of the Toyota fob is quite small. As well, without feedback from the vehicle there would be way to know whether or not you were within range unless you could see some manifestation of the function from far outside of the vehicle. Which would still require you to see the car.

Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting idea but I would be very interested in what the potential range of the system is and if there are any provisions for feedback to the fob before judging the system's efficacy.

I'm still wracking my brain trying to come up with a plausible alternative to this and I haven't thought of one yet.

A/C stands for Activate Cloaking, and it renders the Prius invisible. You want to pay close attention to where you park if you use this feature. Do to the limited range of the remote, you can waste a lot of time walking around an empty lot looking for your cloaked car.

Tom

Not to mention the moron in the mini-van who whips into the lot and into the spot the cloaked Prius is occupying.

I suggest we call the solar panel system a ventilation system, not an A/C system. Note that solar panels wouldn't normally be able to charge the traction battery either, without a fancy inverter. I suspect it runs a ventilation fan, just like many other vehicles have done now and in the past.

Although I too belive this to be confirmation of the Solar A/C ventilation system just to play devil's advocate ...

What if A/C stands for alternating current and is some type of activation for the PHEV? Something to the affect that it doesn't begin charging immediately when you plug the cord in but has to be activated by the new A/C button.

Just a thought.

Chris